Introduction to Lighting

[k2guru]

This is a really good thread. +1 for jzchillin.

[yourHIGHness]

Im a newb to growing and have a question. Right now my seedlings have grown to about an inch an the little leaves are starting to sprout at the top. Im using a 60 Watt CFL right now (cant remember the LU). Can i start using MH bulbs at this point?

[jzchillin]

Originally Posted by yourHIGHness

Im a newb to growing and have a question. Right now my seedlings have grown to about an inch an the little leaves are starting to sprout at the top. Im using a 60 Watt CFL right now (cant remember the LU). Can i start using MH bulbs at this point?

It depends on the strength of the MH bulb, but I would wait until it is a bit larger and has a couple sets of leaves on it.

Is your cfl rated at 60watts incandescent, or is it a 60 watt bulb? If it's only rated at 60watts then the real watts are something like 13-15 watts. In that case you need to add a couple more, or at least 1 more bulb.

[13ronin]

What do you think about using color filters? For example, placing a red or blue "gel" over a fixture housing a CFL bulb?

[yourHIGHness]

Originally Posted by jzchillin

It depends on the strength of the MH bulb, but I would wait until it is a bit larger and has a couple sets of leaves on it.

Is your cfl rated at 60watts incandescent, or is it a 60 watt bulb? If it's only rated at 60watts then the real watts are something like 13-15 watts. In that case you need to add a couple more, or at least 1 more bulb.

I will have two MH 400W bulbs for 14 little plants. Right now each seedling had 4 little leaves on em. I am using a BC Northern Lights Producer to grow.
My CFL im using is a 60 W bulb at this time. 2700k 120V.
Here are pictures of my seedlings if it helps any. Sorry for the quality i took it with my cell phone. These plants are just about 4-6 days old.

[jzchillin]

Originally Posted by yourHIGHness

I will have two MH 400W bulbs for 14 little plants. Right now each seedling had 4 little leaves on em. I am using a BC Northern Lights Producer to grow.
My CFL im using is a 60 W bulb at this time. 2700k 120V.
Here are pictures of my seedlings if it helps any. Sorry for the quality i took it with my cell phone. These plants are just about 4-6 days old.

Can you take a pic of the cfl your using, the package, or the writing on the side of the bulb.

Judging by the stretch of your plants they really need some more light.

If you don't have another cfl available, you can use the mh but make sure to keep some distance from the babies at this stage.

Raise the light to the point where you don't feel much warmth off the bulb.

Also, you only need 1 of those 400 watters on the seedlings.

[yourHIGHness]

This is the CFL im using right now. Again sorry for the quality im using my cell phone to take pics.

This is what I will be growing my seedlings in once I figure out when is a good time...
I took pics of inside the grow box and the MH 400W bulbs are already installed.

I really appreciate your time and input JZ!

[jzchillin]

Originally Posted by yourHIGHness

This is the CFL im using right now. Again sorry for the quality im using my cell phone to take pics.

This is what I will be growing my seedlings in once I figure out when is a good time...
I took pics of inside the grow box and the MH 400W bulbs are already installed.

I really appreciate your time and input JZ!

No problem, I like that box you have! Never seen one in use though.

You should keep a journal in the grow section.

Now that I see that bulb I know for sure you need another one.

CFL's are rated at incandescent wattage's but the real wattage is significantly less.

On the package they say "100 watt equivalent" or something of the like, but are really only 13-15watts and is usually stated in smaller writing in a lower corner.

The one you are using cannot be a true 60 watt cfl. It would be double or triple the size if it were.

If I didn't have 5 bucks to put down on another cfl, I would crank up 1 mh light in that box and see how warm it would get for those seedlings (since the light is not adjustable) before putting them in there, because at this stage they are sensitive to light and heat.

On another note, CFL's are really cheap and less expensive to run then mh.

[yourHIGHness]

Thanks JZ, I will go and buy another CFL bulb.

[jzchillin]

Originally Posted by 13ronin

What do you think about using color filters? For example, placing a red or blue "gel" over a fixture housing a CFL bulb?

I haven't seen that used before in a greenhouse environment, and personally, I am certain that would not work.

[DrKipz]

this thread is very useful for a newb like me im looking into either a 400 watt or 600 watt HPS system and there are a few on ebay in the <$150 range. does this sound legit?

[cantharis]

I recently saw a 150 W HPS complete with ballast for $20.

[jzchillin]

Originally Posted by DrKipz

this thread is very useful for a newb like me im looking into either a 400 watt or 600 watt HPS system and there are a few on ebay in the <$150 range. does this sound legit?

I have gotten a generic 600w ballast and cooltube and a hortilux bulb package on ebay for 120$. The ballast was just the oldschool kind but still new and works great. The cooltube was cracked, I don't know if it was only from shipping but the dealer refused to replace it.

I also got 2 1000watt Sun System ballast for 150 bucks that worked great.

The deals are there, but I watch out for the sellers reputation and read some of the reviews before buying anything now.

[belfastbob]

I was searching for details on lights for my grow and your topic has helped no end!

Many thanks!

Though I'd like to know;

For my first grow I'll be using: CFL 100W for 1 plant and had intended to do 12/12 cycle; lights on during the night and off during the day when the house is warmer.
I was unaware of, but now understand that once the plant begins to flower I need to change to a bulb with different colours. So when my plant begins to flower would it be a wise choice to either;

A) Scrap the 100W CFL altogether and introduce perhaps 1x 50W Blue & 1x 50W Red (CFL?) lights from a local garden centre?
B) Same as above but keep the 100W CFL with the red & blue lights so 150W total?
C) Just keep the 100W CFL and hope for the best?

Thanks.

[jzchillin]

Originally Posted by belfastbob

I was searching for details on lights for my grow and your topic has helped no end!

Many thanks!

Though I'd like to know;

For my first grow I'll be using: CFL 100W for 1 plant and had intended to do 12/12 cycle; lights on during the night and off during the day when the house is warmer.
I was unaware of, but now understand that once the plant begins to flower I need to change to a bulb with different colours. So when my plant begins to flower would it be a wise choice to either;

A) Scrap the 100W CFL altogether and introduce perhaps 1x 50W Blue & 1x 50W Red (CFL?) lights from a local garden centre?
B) Same as above but keep the 100W CFL with the red & blue lights so 150W total?
C) Just keep the 100W CFL and hope for the best?

Thanks.

Now are we talking about the real wattage, or the equivalent wattage?

If the equivalent wattage is 100w then you are really only using a 23 watt bulb.

In this case you should keep the one you have and add a few more of those 23watters.

If it is a true 100w (costs like 60 bucks at HD) then I would keep that and add a few more 23 watt red/warm bulbs.

It mostly depends on your space, if you have the space then keep what you have and add the Red/warm bulbs.

If space is an issue, go with just the red/warm bulbs.

You will also need more than 1 23watt bulb to bloom.

I hope this helps.